Ivy Park's Gates Are Finally Opening
Well, it's finally here. Two years have passed since superstar Beyoncé Knowles-Carter announced what was supposed to be an “upcoming” collaboration with Topshop. Ever since, devoted fans of both store and chanteuse have been waiting with baited breath for news of the collection.
Quite a while ago I personally had given up all hope of hearing any updates on whether the project was still in the works. Perhaps she didn't have time to create a collection she could be proud of, since the singer has a reputation of being quite the perfectionist. But thankfully my fears evaporated last week when Topshop announced that Ivy Park will be finally hitting stores on Thursday, April 14.
In response, the internet lost its mind. Twitter exploded into a Bey Hive frenzy. Fashion publications like Vogue and Man Repeller quickly followed suit, writing their hopes and predictions for the line. But it was Elle that released an exclusive interview with the singer, accompanied by a handful of high-quality images from the collection. Before that, the only related visual the public had was a beautifully shot video of Beyoncé dancing to announce the collaboration.
As a devoted Beyoncé fan, I was excited at the initial news, but I was not without a few lingering doubts. Beyoncé had already tried — and failed — to dip her toe into the waters of fashion with House of Deréon in 2006. What if I was disappointed? Heartbroken? What if the collection was ugly or impractical?
Fortunately, Beyoncé addressed her design approach in the Elle interview: “The foundation for me is the fit and the engineering of technically advanced, breathable fabrics.”
With items like leotards with back cut-outs, mesh hoodies, and jet-black leggings (which Beyoncé claims will keep you sucked in and supported while riding a bike), the entire collection manages to be both effortless and practical; you’ll be getting in formation and putting in work at the gym wearing these clothes.
Although Beyoncé is not the first musician to enter the realm of athleisure – Rihanna had Fenty x Puma and Kanye West had Yeezy Season 3 – what sets her line apart is its affordability. Prices start at $30, and even the most expensive of its 200 pieces will not cost you more than $200. With footwear and accessories in addition to the clothes, Ivy Park offers something for every consumer, bringing Beyoncé closer to her fans.
And that seems to be exactly what she intended: “I called it Ivy Park because a park is our commonality,” she said. “We can all go there; we're all welcomed. It's anywhere we create for ourselves.”
Ivy Park will be available at Topshop, Net-a-Porter, and Nordstrom on April 14.
